Former Leeds and Liverpool star Harry Kewell has confirmed he has quit the Melbourne Victory and Australian football's A-League for family reasons.
The 33-year-old Kewell was due to sign a new contract with the Victory which he joined last season after three years with the Turkish club Galatasaray. But he informed the club late on Saturday that he has decided to stay in England because the mother of his wife Sheree Murphy is gravely ill.
Kewell is one of Australia's most celebrated players and scored eight goals in 25 matches for Melbourne while avoiding the injuries that have recently hampered his career.
''It was one of the toughest decisions we've had to make,'' Kewell said in a statement issued on Sunday by his management.
''I enjoyed playing for Victory and living in Melbourne, but family comes first and together we made a decision that it was best for us to remain close to our family at this time.''
Coach Ange Postecoglou, who joined the Victory this season after winning the last two A-League titles with Brisbane, accepted Kewell's decision.
''I was looking forward to working with him this season, but he has family matters that need his attention so while it's unfortunate, I completely understand,'' Postecoglou said.
''We'd been working very hard to come to an agreement with him and we were extremely confident both parties were close to finalizing the deal, but these things happen and we wish Harry and his family all the best.''
Kewell had signed with Melbourne on an incentive-based three-year contract but activated a clause which allowed him to terminate the contract at the end of his first season.
Australian media reported Kewell is likely to remain in England for the foreseeable future and is unlikely to return to the A-League. He had been the most high-profile signing in the league's seven-year history and his departure is a further blow to a competition recently hit by in-fighting between club owners and league administrators.
